โ โง kento and his ditzy wife!
itโs peaceful saturday in the nanami household. kento is in his study reading a bookโฆwhen all of a sudden he hears something. a bark? a meow?
he hesitantly walks down the stairs to find: 6 animals. in. his. house. the very same house he works hard to keep clean and spotless. and there you are kneeling next to them petting them like his cute little zookeeper. he would feel smitten, but he couldnโt help but notice the small stray kitten leaving itsโฆlove on his fresh white carpet.
kento calls out to you, you finally meet his eyes smiling excitedly.
โlook arenโt they adorable!?โ
kento doesnโt answer right away.
he stands in the doorway, frozen mid-step as he takes in the scene before him.
small, dirt-streaked bodies scattered across the living room floor. a blanketโhis blanketโhas been dragged out and repurposed into what looks like a makeshift nest. a bowl from the kitchen sits nearby, filled with water. another with what he can only assume used to be properly portioned food.
and in the center of it all, you, his wife, smiling up at him like youโve done nothing out of the ordinary.
โโฆi see,โ he says finally, voice measured.
you light up at the acknowledgment, gently scooping up one of the strays and holding it toward him like an offering. โlook at this oneโthis one followed me all the way home!โ
โhow many are there?โ he asks.
you pause. count silently. โโฆi think six?โ
โthey were cold!โ you defend quickly. โand hungryโand itโs getting dark, i couldnโt just leave them there.โ
kento loosens his tie slightly, eyes scanning the room again. one of the strays has already wandered closer to his pant leg, sniffing curiously.
โโฆand your solution was to bring all of them inside.โ
โyes,โ you say, like itโs the most obvious answer in the world.
he sighsโquiet, controlledโbut thereโs no real irritation behind it. just resignation. familiar, practiced resignation.
the small animal by his leg nudges against him.
then, slowlyโalmost reluctantlyโhe crouches.
โโฆtheyโll need to be cleaned,โ he mutters, more to himself than to you. โand checked. strays can carry diseases.โ
โi know,โ you say softly now, watching him carefully. โi was hoping youโd help me.โ
kento reaches out, letting the small creature sniff his hand before gentlyโcarefullyโresting his fingers against its head.
โโฆtemporary,โ he says after a moment. โweโll figure out a proper arrangement tomorrow.โ
your smile grows, softer this time.
โโฆand no more than this,โ he adds.
โโฆabsolutely no more.โ
kento exhales through his nose, already aware heโs lost that particular battle.
still, he doesnโt pull his hand away as the stray leans into his touch.
and when he finally stands, he rolls up his sleeves.
โโฆget towels,โ he says.
